Source: Washington Examiner · 2026-08-31 · Original article ↗

Jim Clyburn backs 13-justice Supreme Court, rues defending Clarence Thomas

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

A baker's dozen on the bench. Clyburn said 13. He also said Thomas was a mistake.

Summary

  • The Washington Examiner reports Rep. Jim Clyburn told NBC's Meet the Press he backs expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices, matching a Kamala Harris proposal, and called a baker's dozen a pretty good number.
  • He said Congress should take significant action because the Court has decided to reverse course and take the country back.
  • Clyburn also said supporting Clarence Thomas in the 1991 confirmation was a mistake and that he thought Thomas would follow Voting Rights and Civil Rights precedents.
  • The interview put a party kingmaker on the record for packing the Court to dilute sitting conservatives.

Commentary

A machinist still reads a 5-4 like a blueprint and pays the tax that built the marble. He did not vote for a baker's dozen to paper over a loss.

That is the gap. Thirteen chairs. One regret about 1991. The honest dad already accepted the count. The kingmaker wants a new count.

Ask every citizen who still treats nine as the number: if a baker's dozen is the fix, who still owns the bench?

Comments

If a baker's dozen is the fix, who still owns the bench?
u/border_dad · 5h

Thirteen is not reform. It is a recount of the furniture.

u/midwest_vet · 4h

I saluted a Constitution with nine. A baker's dozen is a party whip.

u/rule_first · 4h

Harris said 13. Clyburn said Congress should act. That is the quote.

u/tokyo_ally · 3h

Allied courts do not add chairs after a loss. They read the statute.

u/docket_rat · 3h

1991 regret plus 13 chairs is the same speech. File both lines.

u/night_shift · 2h

I still clock a machine that does not get extra gears when I lose.

u/texas_mom · 90m

A kid's civics book still says nine. Do not lie to the book.

u/gulf_watch · 55m

A republic that packs its court will pack its next defeat.

u/press_clip · 30m

Examiner printed Meet the Press, 13, and the Thomas regret. Argue those nouns.

u/soc_lead · 15m

Keep nine. Read the opinion. A bench is not a buffet.

Paraphrased comments. Not attributed.

More from this rōnin

Stories → Discoveries → Books → Buy me a coffee →
A Samurai Loose in Modern America Volume Two cover
The next hundred misunderstandings, bound at last.
Kindle. One hundred later field reports from a samurai loose in America.
Volume Two → NEW
NOBUNAGA samurai icon
⚔️ A hundred misunderstandings, properly bound.
Every misadventure with America, gathered together and footnoted with afterwords.
Behold the collection →
NOBUNAGA icon
No sword raised against you. Just a tired rōnin with a brush.
If these stories made your day a little lighter, a coffee keeps the ink flowing.
☕ Buy this samurai a coffee